Lowell Crane Obituary

Lowell Russell Crane II was born October 29, 1959, to Lowell "Russ" and Sydney Crane (née Yurkschatt) in East Cleveland. He was raised in Hambden in the stone and log home that he built alongside his parents and younger brother, Lenny. At Chardon High School, Lowell played baseball, basketball, and football, and graduated valedictorian in 1978. Playing bass clarinet in the concert band, he met his high school sweetheart, flute player Jane Lawrence, initiating a loving 48-year-long relationship.
Lowell attended Marietta College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1982 with a BS in Petroleum Engineering. Jane and Lowell married August 7, 1982 at Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon, then moved to Lafayette, LA for his job with ARCO Oil & Gas. The happy couple built a log home and welcomed their two children, Brandon and Megan, before moving to Anchorage, AK in 1989.
Lowell continued to work for ARCO and then BP as a drilling engineer, where he enjoyed the challenge of using math to target petroleum reservoirs over a mile underground. He fell in love with all that Alaska had to offer an avid outdoorsman – from hiking mountain trails in Chugach State Park to canoeing on the Kenai Peninsula, as well as hunting big game and fishing for halibut, sockeye salmon, and golden-finned trout. Given his Chardon roots, he was undeterred by the Alaskan winters and loved to cross-country ski. Ever a family man, Lowell enjoyed family camping trips, coaching his son's baseball teams, and enthusiastically cheering his daughter on at soccer. Lowell and Jane developed a close-knit group of friends that they fondly referred to as their "Alaskan family," and he enjoyed relaxing with them at their cabin near the Susitna River in Willow, as well as fostering friendly competition in racquetball, softball, and basketball.
After 39 years living away from Ohio, Jane and Lowell moved back to Chardon in 2021 where Lowell faithfully supported Cleveland Guardians baseball and excelled as a doting PawPaw to his grandchildren.
In his later years, Lowell was afflicted with symptoms of what would eventually be diagnosed as corticobasal degeneration. Despite his condition, he embodied fortitude through the end of his life with the help of Jane's unwavering love, support, and positivity. Lowell passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on April 23, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Jane; children Brandon (Julia) of Chardon, and Megan (Peter) Croke of Tremont; grandchildren Cecilia, Charlotte, Simon, and Eloise; mother, Sydney; brother, Leonard (Pam) of Hancock, MI; and was preceded in death by his father, Russ.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Lowell's life Friday, May 10, with services at Pilgrim Christian Church (202 S Hambden St, Chardon, OH) at 3pm followed by a reception from 4 to 6pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holden Arboretum in Lowell's honor, or just leave the hiking trail cleaner than you found it.
Arrangements by Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Chardon.
Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.burrservice.com